Brandon Twp – On Aug. 4, the Seymour Lake Property Development committee presented the township board with a summary package of almost a million dollars to develop a recreational park.
After several years of thrashing out choices of what should be done with almost 60 acres of township owned property on Seymour Lake Road, the board assigned a committee to explore the financial and physical possibility of raising a recreational park.
The task of researching the proposed cost was assigned to trustees Tom Stowell, Charlene Carlson, Sandra Wilett, and Recreation Director Fred Waybrant.
The committee found that for a park of three soccer/football fields plus two baseball/softball fields, the roadway infrastructure and parking lots would represent the bulk expense, estimated at $433,000.
Engineering the playing fields would cost over $300,000 and the addition of a maintenance building, concession stand, and restrooms would be an additional $105,000. A 15 percent engineering fee was be added to the total cost summary.
‘The good thing is that it’s not going to cost the taxpayers anything extra,? said Trustee Carlson during the cost presentation to the board.
‘The proposal is just an indication of what we’re trying to accomplish.?
Trustee Stowell added that the park could be developed at a lesser amount through a bidding process.
‘Of course we can do it for less,? Stowell said ‘But you asked us to get a bid estimate; and we want to make sure this is on the front burner.?
The additional play space, says Waybrant, would not mean an additional cost to taxpayers because the development loan would be covered by an existing millage that will be renewed in 2004.
In addition to exploring construction costs, the committee presented two viable loan option proposals. The first would be for the township to borrow $700,000 with a 10 year payback, or to draw on a $500,000 five year loan. Both options are currently being evaluated by the township treasurer.
While Township Supervisor Ron Lapp said he was not comfortable committing to a $700,000 loan because of state budget cuts, a $500,000 loan would encumber less of the millage. Lapp did agree with further discussion to seek a loan in order to move forward with developing the Seymour Lake Road site.
‘I think $700,000 is a big stretch,? said Lapp. ‘The $500,000 would be no problem but the $700,000, I just think we’ll be too strapped.
‘But let’s hear what the treasurer found out (about both loans).?
The park proposal will be presented to the board for further discussion of the loan, on Aug. 18 (at the regular board meeting).
If expenditure of the proposal is approved a public hearing will follow.